Jury rules on Westminster assault

BRATTLEBORO -- A jury has convicted a former Northfield man of two counts of sexually assaulting a child in Westminster four years ago.

David Edson, now 29, was convicted in Brattleboro Criminal Court Friday after a week long jury trial.

The jury, which asked to rehear the victim's testimony and taped statement to the police, deliberated for seven hours Friday before finding Edson guilty.

Edson repeatedly sexually assaulted a child under the age of 12 in Westminster in 2009, the jury found.

The victim reported the assaults two years ago and testified at the trial.

The victim is no longer living in the area, according to Windham County Deputy State's Attorney David Gartenstein.

A police officer and a nurse practitioner also testified during the trial.

"The evidence showed that the child experienced significant physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the household," Gartenstein said. "(The victim) testified to the best of his/her ability about her memories of the abuse perpetrated on him.her. The jury, by its verdict, found her testimony persuasive."

Edson, who also testified at the trial, is being with held without bail and will be sentenced at a later time.

He is facing a minimum of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of life after being convicted of two different charges of aggravated sexual assault.

He was also convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.

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Edson will be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections for the rest of his life, Gartenstein said.

Edson is also facing sentencing for an assault in Northfield in 2011 that left his victim near death.
Editor's note: This story has been edited since it appeared in print.

Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com, or 802-254-2311, ext. 279. You can follow him on Twitter @HowardReformer.

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